THE NIGHT-WATCH

BY PHYSIOLOGIC DESIGN OUR BRAINS ARE WIRED WITH A CIRCADIAN CLOCK OR SLEEP AND TIME TASKMASTER. THIS INTERNAL TIMETABLE IS IN CAHOOTS WITH A NUEROTRANSMITTER CALLED ADENOSINE, WORKING TO INHIBIT MANY OF OUR NATURAL PROCESSES DECREASING WAKEFULNESS. IN ADDITION, EACH HUMAN BEING'S CHRONOTYPE, OR RATHER THEIR INTRINSIC FAVOR TOWARDS BEING A "MORNING LARK" OR "NIGHT OWL" DICTATES THE TIME OF DAY EACH OF US IS MORE ALERT. HOWEVER, REGARDLESS OF ANY ONE CHRONOTYPE OR CIRCADIAN TASKMASTER, ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND EVEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY AT WAR AGAINST THE PROPENSITY TO SLEEP. TAKING PERSONAL RISK, IT IS THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT TAKE UP POSTS AND STAND GUARD WHILE THE REST ARE SLEEPING AND MOST VULNERABLE. NIGHTS ARE MORE SOUND AND REJUVENATING DUE TO THE COMFORT BROUGHT BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT SOMEONE HAS OUR BACK. THESE POLICE AND FIREMEN, NURSES AND DOCTORS MAKE UP THE NIGHT-WATCH. I FEEL EMPOWERED WITH A DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY AS I DRIVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE RUSH HOUR MASSES TO TAKE A POST AND JOIN THE NIGHT-WATCH.

WHEN THE FAMILY OF "POST-OP" SUCCUMBED TO A LONG DAY OF TRAVEL AND THE BIOLOGICAL FRAILTIES REQUIRING REST...I ASSURED THEM I WOULD BE HERE FOR THEIR LOVED ONE THROUGH THE NIGHT. LATER I ENTERED THE ROOM TO CHECK ON "POST-OP" FINDING HER FEELING ANXIOUS, ALONE AND UNCERTAIN WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN HER FACE...I TOOK HER HAND AND REASSURED HER THAT FAMILY HAD BEEN HERE EARLIER AND THAT I NOW WOULD BE HERE FOR HER THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL THEY RETURNED, AND SHE SLIPPED BACK TO SLEEP.

SOME MIGHT SAY THAT THE NIGHT SHIFT IS ABOUT BETTER MONEY, LOWERED STRESS AND CHAOS. FOR ME...THERE IS A CALM AND TRANQUIL GRACE THAT COMES FROM TAKING A POST AND WATCHING THE BACKS OF OTHERS WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD IS SLEEPING...